The firm is touting what Ireland can offer companies in the technology, biotechnology, and life sciences industries. It is collaborating with East Coast partner PadillaCRT.

SAN JOSE, CA: IDA Ireland has brought on McGrath/Power Public Relations and Communications to highlight opportunities in Ireland for US companies based on the West Coast.

Specifically, the firm is touting what Ireland can offer companies in the technology, biotechnology, and life sciences industries.

IDA Ireland, the group responsible for industrial development in the country, selected the firm following a competitive pitch. McGrath/Power will provide services including traditional and social media strategy and implementation, a well as event support.

IDA Ireland, which has a West Coast office in Mountain View, California, did not previously have an agency working in McGrath/Power’s role, said Emmet Oliver, director of corporate communications at the group.

McGrath/Power previously worked with the Economic Development Board of Northern Ireland. It will collaborate with Worldcom Public Relations Group partner PadillaCRT on an overall US program. PadillaCRT has worked with IDA Ireland for more than five years, serving as the organization’s East Coast PR representative.

"We’re trying to highlight and showcase what Ireland has to offer to the Silicon Valley community," said Oliver. He added that the European headquarters of Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn are all located in Dublin, and IDA Ireland wants to attract the "Google or Twitter of the future" to set up shop in the country, as well.

Oliver added that McGrath/Power understands "the language of Silicon Valley."

"We don’t have what you might call a ‘natural’ understanding of how people in the Valley live their lives and the ecosystem," he said. "We wanted to find a contractor that would be able to take our ideas and explain them."

All agency work will be done from the firm’s Silicon Valley office, said Jonathan Bloom, McGrath/Power CEO and founding partner. He added that factors like "intellectual capital" and the quality of employees play a larger role than in the past, when relocating technology companies were largely focused on manufacturing.

Bloom confirmed that the firm has started work on the account, which runs annually and is worth six figures.